SW Arizona News

Students and teachers in the Parker Unified School District (PUSD) have the support of a board that wants students to continue learning and teachers to continue to work and get paid, even though they’re not in school buildings, because schools are closed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.   

Discussion on ensuring that teachers are paid began on March 18 at the district level, and the board announced that services will still be provided to students, following Gov. Doug Ducey’s closure of schools through April 10.

PUSD Superintendent Brad Sale told the Parker Pioneer that Parker Schools started distributing take home packets. Food service for students will also continue.  

Arizona requires a minimum of 180 school days annually, and Sale said that they will have to figure out how to make up the time, if the closure is extended.

He said that funding could become an issue if districts are required to pay their teachers, even if schools are closed after Monday, March 30. Teachers were not included in the list of essential personnel provided to the Parker Pioneer, although staffing for the superintendent’s office, business office, principals’ offices and food service staff are considered essential.

Board member Deanna Beaver said that all employees should be paid. 

“We shouldn’t punish anyone in this emergency,” Beaver said.

The state legislature is considering a couple of bills (SB 1693 and HB 2910) that would allow school districts not to extend the school year, to allow alternative forms of instruction, and to extend the state’s testing period.

Food service will occur at Wallace Elementary School and LePera Elementary School cafeterias, which will be open from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on weekdays. Mobile sites will be across from the Cienega Springs boat ramp, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Fire Station in Poston and the MoChem housing development, operating like drive-thru service. A child must be present for meals to be picked up.